To the Swift Church community,
The Swift Church session met Monday, March 16. During an hour of open discussion of the latest safety precautions regarding the coronavirus, and the theology of gathering as a community to worship, the Swift Church session voted to cancel all church-related events for at least the next two weeks through, and including, worship on March 29. The session will meet again on March 29 to revisit this decision.
Please know this was not an easy decision. Ultimately, the decision came down to the latest information from the CDC urging Americans to avoid discretionary travel and social gatherings of more than 10 people. Older people and medically vulnerable folks should stay home.
As you know, many of our congregation fit within the vulnerable category either by age or medical condition. Also, a number of our members work in health-care settings that increase their exposure. It is for the safety of our members and their families that we made this difficult decision. Please know this is a prayerful and faithful decision by our church leaders.
Here’s what this means at least for the next two weeks:
■ No in-person church events — Sunday school, committees, worship, choir rehearsals, Butterfly Girls and Guys Night Out, etc.
■ The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. Please contact us with your physical or spiritual needs.
■ Pastoral care will be offered via text, phone, email or facetime.
■ Our food pantry will be open on March 25. People’s food needs do not stop.
■ We will offer worship online. This Sunday and March 29 at 10:00, there will be a worship service posted on www.swiftchurch.org and on the Swift Presbyterian Church Facebook page. If you have not already “liked” our Facebook page, please do so now so that you will be ready for Sunday. This service can be viewed at a later time, if needed.
FYI: The Swift Church Preschool board met Monday. As a ministry to the community, the preschool was planning to remain open to accommodate working parents as long as possible. They were working under increased alertness and following CDC guidelines for preschools.
►Update: The preschool closed at the end of the day March 19, as mandated by the governor for all preschools in Alabama.
